Loongcosa gen. nov.

Type species.

Pardosa dentitegulum Yin, Peng, Xie, Bao & Wang, 1997 .

Etymology.

The generic name is a compound noun derived from the Chinese totem ‘ loong’ (龙) and ‘ - cosa’, a common ending in Lycosidae genera. The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis.

Loongcosa gen. nov. is similar to Houcosa gen. nov. (Figs 2, 3) and Kuncosa gen. nov. (Figs 4 – 11) in having 2 pairs of spines on the male palpal tibia, a strong basoembolic apophysis (BEA), Figs 2, 12, 14), an extended posterior septum of the epigyne (Figs 3 C, D, 13 C, D, 15 C, D), but differs from the latter two genera by the short tibia, 1 / 3 the length of the cymbium (Figs 12 A – C, 14 A – C) (vs as long as in Houcosa and as half-length in Kuncosa), tegular apophysis absent (TeA, Figs 12 A – E, 14 A – E) (vs present in both Houcosa and Kuncosa), terminal apophysis short, sclerotized, spine-like and located on posteriorly to embolus (TA, Figs 12 F, 14 F) (vs long, membranous, needlelike and located anteriorly to embolus in Houcosa and strong, triangular in Kuncosa), wide and heavily sclerotized embolus (Em, Figs 12 B, D, F, 14 B, D, F) (vs thin in both Houcosa and Kuncosa), the strong sclerotized and grooved retrolateral tegular apophysis (RTeA, Figs 12 B – E, G, 14 B – E, G) (vs triangular in Houcosa and bifurcated in Kuncosa), large and almost tongue-shaped septum with a kind of scape (Sc, Figs 13 C, 15 C) (vs small, semicircular in Houcosa and truncated posterior margin in Kuncosa), the arc-shaped stalk of the spermatheca (SS, Figs 13 D, 15 D) (vs S-shaped in Houcosa), and a small head of the spermatheca (SH, Figs 13 D, 15 D) (vs large and suboval in Houcosa).

Description.

Carapace brown with distinct light median band, median band wide in cephalic part, with pair of dark dots, thoracic part of median band thin (Figs 13 A, B, 15 A, B). Chelicerae brown, with 3 teeth on both margins. Labium brown, with dark base. Endites brown. Sternum brown, with sparse black setae. Legs brown, with black pigmentation. Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma oval, dorsum black brown, with yellow setae anteriorly, and 5 pairs of white markings in posterior half when live, venter brown.

Palp (Figs 12, 14): Tibia ca 1.4 times longer than wide in lateral view, with 2 pairs of spines, disto-dorsal part and proximo-ventral part rounded. Lacking claws; Bulb ca 1.4 longer than wide; Tegular apophysis, conductor and median apophysis lacking. Terminal apophysis (TA) short, spine-like, sclerotized and located posterior to embolus. Basoembolic apophysis (BEA) large and heavily sclerotized, with 2 or 3 distinct arms. Embolus short, wide, heavily sclerotized, roundly bent, tip pointed. Retrolateral tegular apophysis strongly sclerotized and grooved.

Epigyne (Figs 13 C, D, 15 C, D): Epigynal plate almost as long as wide; anterior part heavily sclerotized, fovea distinct anteriorly; anterior margin with one or pair of anterior hoods (AH), septum broad either with stalk or without, posteriorly with a kind of scape (Sc). Stalk of spermatheca C-shaped, head of spermatheca spherical or irregular.

Composition.

Loongcosa dentitegulum (Yin, Peng, Xie, Bao & Wang, 1997) and L. wuyiensis (Yu & Song, 1988) .

Distribution.

China (Anhui, Fujian, Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Shaanxi, Zhejiang) (Fig. 16).